Anti-Semitism at Huffingtonpost

[Superman Returns]

Just thought I'd comment on this matter that has been bothering me lately. I've recently started reading Huffingtonpost.com, surpassing its usefulness in me eyes over the Drudgereport- a site that I had often frequented. I like the mix of politics, opinion, gossip, and offbeat news. But lately, it seems that a majority of its users who leave feedback are anti-semitic. This goes beyond anti-zionism and criticism of Israel. The article about how Facebook's founder didn't take Yahoo's billion dollar offer was the one that put me over the edge. With a Jewish sounding last name, many began labeling Facebook's founder Mark Zuckerberg as a "greedy jew" and "kike." This is only one example. Every damn day I see tons of anti-semitic garbage in the feedback section. Nothing anti-Israel but pure hatred of all Jews. I realize this is not Arianna's direct fault nor is she responsible for the content of viewers. The anti-Semitism is not in any article or op-ed but simply by those that populate the feedback section. I'm just wondering, is there anything that can be done about this? I like reading opinions, but I hate to see disgusting, vile, insults about my people over and over and over. Anyone notice this?

EDIT: Apparently I can get banned for this? Well, I don't know how to link to individual comments, but here is examples.

<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/12/17/22-yearold-facebook-fo_n_36540.html>

Only a greedy jew would pull a move like this. Especially when "Facebook" is worth exactly shit.

By: ElianTheCubanBoy on December 17, 2006 at 10:16am

"Zuckerberg, founder of the Facebook social networking website, has told Yahoo!, the internet giant, that $1 billion is not enough to sell out. Now leaked documents suggest that Yahoo! was willing to raise its bid to $1.6 billion."


And the kike knew Yahoo was willing to shell out up to $1.6 bil. thanks to his kike shyster cousins working for Yahoo in negotiating the deal.

By: pectral on December 17, 2006 at 02:36pm

[magnacarta]

1. Write

Maybe you could write them and suggest that they moderate the forums for racist rhetoric.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/contact/

[donheld]

8. Welcome to DU magnacarta

:hi:

[Wonk]

14. Welcome to DU. Ummmm.... one innocuous post and you got tombstoned?

You must've been IDd by the mods as a previously banned disruptor, based on IP address or something.

[mod mom]

42. or even push the "abusive comment" button. I have before and the comments

are removed.

I read the comments at Huff Po because unlike DU (thank goodness DU doesn't) they allow anyone to post. This gives you the warped perspective of the far right trolls which are instantly hammered by Huff Po faithful. DU provides much more depth into issues and I try link to DU to spread the knowledge.

[Canuckistanian]

47. The regular Huffpoers are usually quick to jump on the scum

Although the "abusive comment" process doesn't seem to work too quickly. Sometimes I see offensive posts long after they were made.

[Wonk]

2. Were you planning to link to examples?

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Superman Returns]

6. ummm

that is absolutely ridiculous. I may disagree with a person's view on Israel, thats fine. In fact, I often feel that America and Israel's agenda has been too intertwined. I am always American first.

I'm talking about anti-semitism, you know the type that spouts stuff like "Greedy Jew" and "Kike." In no way am I trying to get others banned here, in fact I'm not even talking about DU. So really, I do not see how you come to your conclusions. Like I said, particular comments under a certain article pushed me over the edge. But its every damn day I see those comments that shift from one topic to how Jews control the media or simply writing vile racist language. To the poster who asked me to specifically catelogue them, I did not keep track of them over time. However, if the comments remain you can go to Huffington Post under the Facebook article and see them for yourself.

[Wonk]

9. I did your legwork for you and found the link you're referring to.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/12/17/22-yearold-facebook-fo_n_36540.html

(snip)

Only a greedy jew would pull a move like this. Especially when "Facebook" is worth exactly shit.
By: ElianTheCubanBoy on December 17, 2006 at 10:16am
Flag:

(end snip)

ElianTheCubanBoy, now that's a freeper handle if I ever read one. The problem isn't with the left, it's that Huffington lets right wingers post too.

[Superman Returns]

11. thanks

but like I said, this language happens all the time. I wouldn't have posted here if I didn't reach a breaking point. Some here are accusing me of tacking anti-semtism on the Left, but where have I said that it was liberals posting those messages and not right-wingers?

[BoneDaddy]

51. Yah

ever think that the some of the people at Huff's site may not be progressives? Look at the guy's name .... as if a progressive would ever use that handle.

[Behind the Aegis]

12. Not even close.

Perhaps you should "rework" your very weak theory and accusations.

[Superman Returns]

13. thanks

I still get confused with the layout of thread responses. But if your defending me, thank you. Why is it when people talk of anti-semtism, the OP is immediately suspected of something? I wouldn't give the same treatment to an African-American DU member talking about racism. Why are Jews held to a different level? Again- not attacking DU or liberals. But whats the use, this thread will be banned. For what, I don't know.

[Behind the Aegis]

16. You are welcome and Happy Channukah!

There are a few who do not wish to face up to the fact that racism, including anti-Semitism, are problems, even with the left. Anti-Semitism is a very sore topic for the left because of a variety of things, Israel being the biggest reason. As for Huffington, like you said, there is no way of knowing the motivation or sincerity of those posting there. I am sure they have disruptors just like DU does.

[Superman Returns]

17. Happy Hanukkah to you too!

I remember you Aegis, you have defended me before. I don't thank because you appear to be a fellow Jew, but because you display rationality all the time. Some have said I have a checkered membership with DU. Well yes, I had two threads locked. One for defending Israel slightly (basically that its not Satan incarnate). Its ironic considering that I am not an Israel devotee who can't come to criticizing its actions. In fact I am very wary of some of the choices the Jewish nation has made. I do however realize the existence of anti-semitism. I also realize that anti-semitism in not tied to political spectrum. It exists on all sides. Its saddening to me to have to be accused and threatened by merely stating something that I felt was disheartening with the hope of maybe getting feedback from DU'ers on the matter. Yet immediately my DU membership is questioned, my motives picked apart. I think it is finally time for me to part ways with this site. Thank you Aegis for your support.

[leveymg]

28. One example doesn't make your case, Superman

It seems that you're smearing Huf with a very broad brush dipped in thin evidence.

Yes, there are trolls here and there. What does that prove about the alleged "antisemitism" of the Left? Little or nothing, other than there are those like you who would pretend that's true.

By the way, Superman is the Americanized version of the Ubermench, the Nietzchean overman character (and all it implies). Similarly, I'd avoid saying that you're an American Firster, as that was an Isolationist group, some of the leaders of which were actually Pro-Nazi.

[treestar]

40. Those of us who aren't Jewish are properly shamed

Oh and we feel so left out.

Now we know how it feels when we say Merry Christmas to each other in the hearing of non-Christians.

You almost make the right's case, trying to put yourself in as victimized position as possible, even seeing power in being the victim, since as society becomes more and more tolerant, as it generally does, you lose that power and try to hang onto it by pointing out the scraps that are left.

At least you can appreciate that free speech allows the anti-semites to be able to express themselves, so you can identify easily those few who still are, and do something about them, in that quest, more power to you. Those same individuals are probably racist, too, so maybe you'll put in a good word for the African-Americans, gays, and Muslims they are likely to hate also.

[YOY]

30. No.

and nail-dead-on-the-head close and yet to be proven otherwise.

I tend to remember what people post a few months back.

Including yourself.

[Behind the Aegis]

54. Still wrong.

You are the one that needs to do the "proving." Your "theory" falls flat on its face and a simple click on the member icon would have proved that point wrong immediately. I, too, remember what people post in recent months, you included. And what I don't remember, a simple search will confirm.

[aquart]

32. Curious, nah.

Blatant? Oh, my word. Yeah, somedays I just get sick from it.

[YOY]

34. Yeah, and I shouldn't even reply to their postings

I don't usually. It bothers me on occasion that those same posters keep showing up and (for the most part) put a post on that gets ignored until their next 'antisemitism watchdog' action.

Funny thing is, if anyone here was actually an anti-semite, Skinner and the Mods would have them out of here in the blink of an eye and their comments would draw ire from every single DUer before that blink.

[cali]

44. You do realize that Skinner and the mods

are kept sadly busy knocking out the anti-semitic posts that appear here during such times as the Israeli attack on Lebanon and the recent Holocaust conference in Iran? Dozens of posters have been tombstoned.

[YOY]

48. To my knowledge most of them were FReep Trolls

Although one rather well-known and well-liked DUer was tombstoned for saying some things that were hardly antisemitic, but moreover anti-Israeli actions.

He's back under a slightly different handle and I can honestly say that I don't consider him anything negative, racist, or anti-semetic.

I hardly think DU a steaming bed of hatred. Unless of course you consider anyone who dares to disagree with Israel's foreign policy an 'anti-semite'.

[cali]

49. Interesting that you have such speciialized knowledge

that enables you to come to the conclusion that most of those tombstoned were freeper trolls. It's my observation that plenty of them were not trolls. Yes, some people have been tombstoned who I don't think were anti-semitic, but sorry, plenty of them were.

And no, I don't think that anyone who disagrees with Israeli foreign policy is an anti-semite- as this post, and many other of my posts in I/P, make crystal clear. But the denial that there's no anti-semitism on the left, is, unfortunately, not true. I've seen plenty of it on DU, along with other forms of bigotry.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=124&topic_id=159836&mesg_id=159838

[YOY]

50. No need to be nasty

I however, have yet to see any true anti-semitism from any real DUers. On occasion I have seen ignorance (the fixable kind), but that is remedied easily.

If you want to see anti-semitism check out the 'Stormfront' web site. Google it. I wouldn't link to their hateful monstrous pile of greased stool of a site. THAT is anti-semitism.

I must disagree with you that the left in the US as harboring some form of strong anti-semitic front...or a weak one come to think of it.

The point that I have made is that the OP posts only to 'root out' this non-existent hatred.

[cali]

52. I apolgize for sounding nasty.

Beyond that we must agree to disagree.

[k_jerome]

38. perhaps an AIPAC agent? ha. nt.

[stopbush]

4. HuffPo allows any reader to label any post as abusive.

If you do so, a moderator will look at the post in question. If it is out of line, they will take it down and either put the
'writer on probation or ban them altogether.

I'm surprised you've not noticed this feature.

[Superman Returns]

7. well,

ive done it before and nothing happens, soooo, if there are only a few good souls out there, what can we do?

[Harper_is_Bush]

5. A generalized attack on another forum without proof

is worthy of report.

[Superman Returns]

10. I wasn't attacking the forum

I was attacking the users who have posted anti-semetic comments. Go ahead, Report Me.

[still_one]

15. I agree with you, and the mods at Huffington should do their job

According to George Clooney she also misrepresented him.

I remember when Huffington was a freeper, and it wasn't that long ago where she stood campaigning for bushco.

Yes, now she walks the walk, and talks the talk, but some of the hate she spewed against the liberals, when she was on the other side was quite disgusting.

Personally, I do not give her much credibility as a journalist. As an entertainer, that is another matter

[GreenZoneLT]

20. Arianna Huffington isn't a journalist

She's a wealthy dilettante, whose politics depend on what fad or crusade has captured her attention. "Worked" her way up from arm candy. Sort of a grownup Paris Hilton. As deep as Jane Fonda, Barbara Bush or Barbra Streisand.

[Harper_is_Bush]

18. oh really?

a "majority of its users who leave feedback are anti-semitic"??

that is a generalized attack on Huffington Post. If a "majority" of users are anti-semetic, then the place is anti-semetic, no?

"the Drudgereport- a site that I had often frequented." Why?

[Behind the Aegis]

19. How dishonest.

"a "majority of its users who leave feedback are anti-semitic"??"

That is not what he said. He said: "But lately, it seems that a majority of its users who leave feedback are anti-semitic."

It was his opinion ("...it seems...") that "...lately..." a problem was happening. He also made it very clear that the problem was not the site, in general, but with the feedback section, which is supposed to be moderated. Seeing as that what he actually said, your comment: "If a "majority" of users are anti-semetic, then the place is anti-semetic, no?" is nonsense.

As for the DrudgeReport, I will let him answer that, though it does seem he also answered that in his initial post as well by stating: "I like the mix of politics, opinion, gossip, and offbeat news."

[Superman Returns]

21. well, im going to bed

you did a good job of defending me Aegis. In retrospect, I knew the Drudge reference was going to cause suspicion. But I merely referred to Drudge because Huffington Post has basically replaced it in my line-up of daily sites to view. Both pretty much link to a wide array of articles and stories and breaking news. Now I don't have to rely on the Sludge. However, as I began to read the comment section of Huffington's website, I saw a recurring pattern- anti-semitism. There were racist comments too, but mostly anti-semitic plagued the user section. Like I said, I didn't keep tabs up until now. But, no sense beating a dead horse. I see that any talk of anti-semitism must be apart of a neocon conspiracy or a freeper wolf posing as a DU lamb. I think I'm prety much done posting on these things.
Goodnight, Aegis.

[proud2BlibKansan]

39. Why would anyone read Drudge

and then admit that here?

[Roland99]

22. Likely Freeper trolls posting comments. Your thread title is very misleading

[rpannier]

23. I've been noticing a lot more postings on HuffPo that are racist and anti-semitic

Granted, it's not the articles, it's the responses.
However, either the site doesn't care or their mods are incredibly lax, because they do a piss-poor job of pulling those postings.

Let's be honest with ourselves for a minute...many of the anti-semitic posts are from reich wingers, but there are anti-Semitic leftists as well.

[Crunchy Frog]

24. I've noticed that about their comments section

and find it very disturbing. They seem to be very weak on moderating, and it really weakens an otherwise excellent site.

I have no problem with Israel criticism, but that isn't what's going on over there.

[ThatPoetGuy]

25. I think what it really comes down to...

is this:

there's a small number of people who are obsessive conspiracy theorists. Rather than face the marginalized shambles that they've made of their own lives, they spend all their free time daydreaming big plots that only they can see; they focus on who shot JFK, they say Jews blew up the World Trade Center, they think OJ Simpson was framed to cover up the truth about the moon landing.

These people are small in numbers, but they're obsessive and they're antisocial, and they spend all their time posting nonsense on websites, since that's the only form of power they'll ever have.

Don't take them too seriously. They're politics' version of Trekkies -- not science fiction fans who hold respectable jobs, but socially retarded losers who live in their parents' basement, looting change from the couch to save up for that really cool Bajoran earring they saw on eBay.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

26. It's Simple

People say crap over the net that they are afraid to say in real life...


That's why you have so many flame wars...

[TomClash]

27. Google Pectral and you won't be surprised at what you find

These posters are a couple of dopes. They need a lesson in M&A/finance.

Alan Dershowitz does write for Huffington Post. He's not exactly Michael Lerner. Pretty hard to be anti-semitic and have that guy write for your site.

[NorthernSpy]

29. "pectral" on Barack Obama and the Jews:

Clearly, this is NOT a person of the Left speaking:

Looks like the nigga's been given a green light by the fifth column kikes to serve as their next Pink House proxy.

Positive Jew media entertainment combine coverage, free promotion, and generous campaign contributions have been assured.

By: pectral on November 28, 2006 at 01:21pm

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/11/28/obama-traveling-to-new-ha_n_35063.html



Contrary to what some seem to imply, a racist-Right troll does not magically become a "progressive" by virtue of trolling at a progressive site. His racism and anti-Semitism likewise do not in any way represent "tendencies" among people of the Left.

[JNelson6563]

33. Wow. Just wow.

Hard to believe it but there it is. I cannot imagine living is such a dark world. Thanks for posting that though, it's important for everyone to see the pointless hatred that really exists out there.

Julie

[TomClash]

35. Millions live there

They inhabit a world in which "racial" differences mask the class war being waged upon them.

[notadmblnd]

31. I'm sure that there are disrupters at the Huffington site

just as there are here. You should probably post your concerns over there. It might be more effective?

[proud2BlibKansan]

37. No doubt

[proud2BlibKansan]

36. I don't understsnd why you are posting this here

Doesn't your concern belong with HuffPost admins? What do you hope to accomplish by posting their dirty laundry here? Trying to rouse some anti-semites here at DU?

[Chimichurri]

41. There are a ton of disruptors who post there. Many of whom come

from right wing sites. Instead of posting here - you should write to the administrators of that blog.

[originalpckelly]

43. This is not new, over at Media Matters...

a bunch of conservatives post there as well. (You can tell because they get into arguments with people. In fact, I've had the pleasure of adding some words from them to the Kelly First Edition Dictionary of The Conservative Idiot Language (a subset of English mind you.))

It's called a troll.

[dogday]

45. I normally do not like to label people as

bigots but those statements are blatant bigotry... It lessens the reputation of Huffington Post, allowing such nasty things....

[geek tragedy]

46. Two comments? Heck, I could find two sane, rational

comments at the Free Republic and draw a false conclusion from that data set.

[Poll_Blind]

53. This same sort of smear was used against MoveOn recently.

Here is a link but the exact same thing happened at at HuffPost: Someone posts anti-Semitic comments in an open message forum and the entire organization is smeared with anti-Semitism. This is more of The New Anti-Semitism at work. Certain statements are inferred to be "coded" anti-Semitism (most notably criticism of Israel's conservative government and policies) and once, twice, or three-times-removed "guilt by association".

  It has attempted to "label" HuffPost, MoveOn, even Democratic Underground. Here at DU there have been polls about once a week for the last 3-4 weeks which are used to "prove" that DU is riddled with anti-Semites. It's bullshit, but (to paraphrase Skinner):

"If you come to DU looking for something you're going to find it. Because people see what they want to see."

  That applies to a whole host of other issues, not just anti-Semitism, but I believe he made it in response to one of the outrageous polls recently posted.

PB

[undergroundrailroad]

55. Locking per I/P Guidelines

Not based on a recent article or op-ed.


Undergroundrailroad
DU Moderator
Israel/Palestine Forum